With three players heading to the Africa Cup of Nations, boss David Moyes’ resources are stretched to breaking point.

And he’s set to send out the kids against Burnley in the FA Cup on Saturday with survival very much the priority at the Stadium of Light.

How much did each Premier League club spend on transfers in 2016?

WHICH Premier League club shelled out the most money in transfer fees during 2016?

1 / 20

GETTY

20. Hull - £19.5m

GETTY

Jack Rodwell is expected to play more for Sunderland in the coming weeks

“With such a thin squad, I will probably get more games”

Sunderland star Jack Rodwell

Four under 23 players were named on the bench for the 2-2 draw against Liverpool and the club’s youngsters could have a key role to play this month with so many senior players unavailable.

TEN were ruled out on Monday, most of them with long-term injuries, and with Didier Ndong, Lamine Kone and Wahbi Khazri now in Gabon with their respective countries, Moyes’ options are extremely limited.

Injury-plagued Rodwell has made just 34 starts in two and a half years at Sunderland but knows he has to keep himself fit.

“With such a thin squad, I will probably get more games,” said the former Manchester City midfielder who made his first start since October against Liverpool.

“I can’t afford to get injured again. None of us can. Maybe I will be put in the fridge for a bit!”

Sunderland bounced back from their 4-1 mauling at Burnley with a morale-boosting display against a Liverpool side who had won their previous four games.

And though they remain deep in trouble, Rodwell insists it’s far from doom and gloom in the camp.

GETTY

David Moyes is without several Sunderland stars

“We’ve been in worse positions,” he added. “There have been times with five or six games to go and I’ve thought ‘bloody hell’ and that’s a lot worse than I feel now.

“It’s when you look at games as must-win, that’s when you’re in trouble and the pressure is really on.

“We’re obviously in a fight to the end but there are only three or four points between ourselves and those teams in 15th or whatever.”